Slip-roll-forming machine



Jan. 7, 1930. P. R. HAHNEMANN 1,742,654

SLIP ROLL FORMING MACHINE File y 1928 2 Sheets-Shet 1 ,Jan; 7, 1930. P. R. HAHNEMANN SLIP ROLL FORMING MACHINE Filed May "r, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet vfif orrzeg I Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL R. HAHNEMANN, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NIAGARA MACHINE AND TOOL WORKS, OF BUFFALO, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SLIP-ROLL-FORMING MACHINE Application filed May 7,

This invention relates to a forming machine whereby sheets of metal are bent into tubular form preparatory to connecting the longitudinal edges thereof to produce metal pipe for various purposes, and more particularly to a machine of this character in which the upper forming roll is movable latorally at its head end toward and from the corresponding end of the lower forming roll for slipping the finished metal tubular pipe off from the upper roll.

In one form of machine ofthis character as heretofore constructed the several forming rolls were connected at the head end of the forming rolls which necessitated moving the gear wheel at the head end; of the upper forming roll horizontally out of and into engagement with the gear wheel at the head end of the lower roll for opening and closing the gap between the same, which is objection able because these gears when out of mesh were liable to become displaced so that the teeth thereof would not intermesh when moving the head end of the upper roll toward its normal or operative position and therefore required manipulating the parts in order to get the same in the proper position which would permit the gearing to be again engaged for restoring the parts to their operative position.

In another known form of machine of this character the gearing between the several forming rolls is at the tail end of the same and is constantly in mesh and the upper roll is raised and lowered at the head end thereof topermit the metal pipe to be slipped off the rolls and then restore the upper roll to its normal position, but this construction is objectionable because of the manual labor required in moving the upper formmg roll upwardly and downwardly relatively to the lower forming roller.

It is the object of this invention to provide a machine of this character which retains the advantages of both these former types of machine but eliminates the objectionable features thereof, and with that end in view this invention consists generally in providing means whereby the upper roll is movable at its head end horizontally with little manual 1928. Serial No. 275,586

efi'ort into and out of its operative position relative to the head ends of the lower and rear roll, and a gearing is employed which connects the rolls at. the tail end thereof and which embodies a gear wheel capable of changing the angle of its axis relative to the axis of another gear wheel but remains constantly in mesh therewith, thereby avoiding disarrangement of the gear wheels relative to one another and avoiding delay in operating the machine as well as increasing the output of themachine.

This application is based on the generic features of this invention but separate applications containing specificclaims for modified forms of this invention are embodied in later applications Ser. No. 276,021 filed MayS, 1928 andSer. No, 276,325 filed May 9,1928.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a practical embodiment of my invention, partly broken away and partly shown in section.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, partly in section, viewed from the head end of the machine.

Figures 3 and 4 are vertical cross sections, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Figure 1.

Figures 5 and 6 are horizontal sections, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Figure 3. V

Figure 7 is a vertical cross section, taken on line 77, Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sec tion, taken on line 88, Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross section, taken on line 9-9, Figure 1, and showing the relative arrangement of the axes of the several rolls while forming a sheet of metal into a pipe. i

In the following description similar characters'of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The main frame of this forming machine preferably consists of a horizontal longitudinal base 10, a head st'andard'll rising from p the head end of this baseand a tail standard 12 rising from the tail endof the base.

Upon this fran: i, mounted the set of forming rolls which in the present instance consists of a lower horizontal longitudinal forming roll 13, an upper horizontal forming rollll arranged lengthwise above the lower roll, and a rear forming roll arranged horizontally and lengthwise in rear of the pass between the lower and upper rolls, in a manner common to this type of machines.

The lower roll is mounted at its opposite ends on the standards of the frame so as to be capable of turning about its axis and also capable of being adjusted vertically, but the same is held against lengthwise motion. For this purpose the head and tail ends 16, 17 of the lower roll are reduced and j'o'urnaled in bearings formed in vertically movable bearing blocks 18, 19 guided on the head and tail standards, l,

T 1e head bearing block 13 is arranged in a verticalslot 20 in the head standard'and guided 'at' its opposite vertical edges on the vertical walls of this slot, as shown in Figure 2, and the tail bearing block is arranged in a vertical slot 21in the tail standard and guided at its opposite vertical edges .on' the vertical edgesof this slot, as shown in Figure 7. The head and tail bearing blocks are pro.- vided with outwardly facing shoulders 22 engaging with the inner sides of the standards and the reduced ends. of the lower roll form outwardly facing'shoulders 23 which engage wanna inner sides'iof the bearing blocks and thereby prevent lengthwise movement of thelower roll.

The lower roll is preferably used as the driver of the apparatus and power may be applied thereto by any suitable means, for example by a hand crank 24, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. j I

Vertical adjustment of the lower roll for bringing the same into the desired position relative to the upper and rear rolls to suit different conditions and kinds of work may be effected by various means but preferably by the meansshown in the drawings which are constructed as follows The numeral 25 represents an inclined adjusting screw working in the lower front part ofthe head standard and engaging with an inclined face 26 at the lower end of the head bearing block of the lower roll, as shown in Figure 2., Upon turning this screw in 'one direction or the other the bearing block 18 is raised or lowered together with the head end of the lower roll journaled therein.

On its underside the tail bearing block 19 of the lower roll is provided with a longitudinal downwardly opening channel 27 which is T-shaped in cross section and inclined crosswise. I

W'Vithin this channel isarranged an inclined coupling plate 28 which rests at its opposite longitudinal edges on the bottom of j the upper enlarged part of said T-shaped channel and provided in one of its longitudiscrew 30 in 'one direction or the other the bearing block 19'and the tail end of the lower roll journaled therein may be raised or lowered as desired, 'and during the movement of this bearing block the coupling plate 28 slides crosswise o'n'the shoulder 31 of the adjusting screw 30.

The rear roll 15 is ournaled at its head and tail ends in bearing blocks 32, 33 which are slidably mounted in inclined guide slots 34, 35 in the rear parts of the head and'tail standards, as shown in'Figures 2, 3 and 7, the positionfof these bearing blocks in these slots being adjusted by inclined adjusting screws 36', 37 working in the rear parts of the standards and engaging the rear sides of the blocks 32.33., whereby upon turning these screws in one direction or the other the rear roll may be raised and l'oweredand also moved toward and from the lower and upper rolls.

The upper roll is so mounted that the same can be swung horizontally by means of a handle 70 on the head end thereof for moving its head end toward and from the corresponding ends of the lower and rear rolls forpermitting the formed pipe to be slipped therefrom, during which movement of the upper roll the tail end of the same turns about a vertical axis arranged adiacent to the tail endof the lower and rear rolls. For this purpose the reduced head and tail ends 38, 39 of the upper roller are journaled respectively, in a bearing sleeve or bushing 40 removably engaging with the head standard and a bearing 41 formed in the upper part of a swiveling bracket 42 which is pivoted on the tail standard to turn about a vertical axis. The bearing sleeve 40 has its periphery 43 preferably constructed so that it is largest at the'middle and tapers toward opposite ends similar to a bilged barrel and this sleeve is movable into and out of a horizontal jaw or slot 44 formed in the upper part of the head standard and opening forwardly on the front side thereof.

This bearing sleeve is confined on the head end of the upper roller by a retaining pin 71 and may be held in said'slot 1 by a fastening or locking device of any suitable construction that is shown in Figures 1 and 2 consisting of a rotary locking latch 45' arranged in a recess 46 formed in the head standard above the slot-44 and opening upwardly, downwardly and forwardly therefrom, a horizontal longitudinal pivot 47 connecting said :latch with the head standard,

a handle 48 extending upwardly from the latch, and front and rear stops 49, 5O arranged on the head standard across the recess in the path of the handle 48' and adapted to limit the forward and rearward rocking movement of the latch.

- The preponderating weight ofthe latch 45 and its handle 48 is arranged in rear of its pivot 47 so that the latch tends constantly to turn by gravity in the direction for carrying the downwardly projecting nose at the rear end thereof across the path of the bearing sleeve. lVhen, therefore, the head end of the upper roll is moved horizontally rearward into the bearing slot 44 until it engages the rear end thereof this sleeve first lifts the latch and after passing rearwardly beyond the same the latch drops by gravity in front of the bearing sleeve and automatically locks the same in its rearmost operative position, as shown by full lines in Figure 2.

For the purpose of releasing the bearing sleeve and permitting the same together with the head end of the upper roll to be moved forwardly out of the locking slot 44 of the head standard, the latch is turned in a direction for lifting its nose out of the path of the bearing sleeve when the latter is free to move forwardly and permit the finished pipe to he slipped from the upper roll.

lVhile the bearing sleeve 40 is arranged in the slot 44 of the head standard the same is preferably held against turning so that the same serves merely as a hearing at this time for the head end of the upper roll, this being accomplished by making the latch 45 fit sufficiently close against the sleeve 40 so that when tightening the latch by hand the latch will operate in the manner of a cam and grip the sleeve 40 between the latch and the inner end of the slot 44 so that it will not turn.

When, however, the latch is released from the bearing sleeve 40 the latter operates as a roller or wheel which rotates in engagement with the lower side of the slot 44 upon opening and closing the upper roll, andthus reduces the friction and wear and permits of manipulating the upper roll more readily and also maintaining the machine in the best condition for a longer time before necessitating renewal or repair.

l oreover, by employing a sleeve as the bearing for the head end of the upper roll a full bearing and greater durability is obtained as compared with machines which provide only a partial bearing for the head end of the upper roll.

The swiveling bracket 42 has the form of a Cshaped yoke which is deflected rearwardly between its upper and lower ends and is arranged within a relatively stationary housing 51 formed by making the upper part of the tail standard hollow for this purpose. This bracket is pivotally mounted to turn about a vertical axis arranged adjacent to the tail ends of the several rolls and for this purpose it is preferable to employ upper and lower pivot screws 52, 53 arranged vertically in line with each other and working in threaded openings in the upper and lower parts of the casing or housing on the tail standard of the frame, the inner ends 54 of said pivot screws being conical and engaging with correspondingly shaped pivot sockets in the upper and lower ends of the swiveling bracket, as shown in Figure 4.

A compensating gearing is provided which operatively connects the lower and upper rolls so that the same are constantly rotated u in unison which gearing is arranged at the tail end of these shafts and so organized that the several members of'the gearing are al ways in mesh with one another while operating the machine and also when moving the upper roll forwardly to open thehead end of the pass between the same and permit of removing therefrom the pipe 55 which has been 1formed around the same from a sheet of neta The preferred form of this gearing shown in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6 consists of a driving gear wheel 56 secured to the tail end of the lower roll, a driven gear wheel 57 secured to the. tail end of the upper roll outside of the bracket 42 and a pair of intermeshing intermediate gear wheels 58, 59 pivoted one above the other by vpins 60, 61 to the outer side of the bracket 42, the upper intermediate gear wheel 59 being in rear of the driven gear wheel 57 and meshing therewith, and the lower intermediate gear wheel 58 being in rear of the driving gear wheel 56 and meshing therewith, as shown in Figure 3.

By this means the opposing sides of the upper and lower rolls are compelled to move in .the same direction while the same operate on a sheet of metal and force the same against the rear rollfor bending the sheet into the- .roll forwardly for opening the machine to slip off the finished pipe, the swiveling bracket turns about the'vertical aXis formed by the pivot screws 52, 53, thereby causing the driven gear wheel and the intermediate gear wheel to be rocked bodily and the axes of the same to be changed so that they stand at an angle to the axis of the driving gear wheel and lower roll, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 6, instead of being parallel therewith, as shown by full lines in the same figure.

During this rocking movement of the driven and intermediate gear wheels the teeth of the lower intermediate gear wheel slide laterally relatively to the teeth of the driving gearwheel.

The rocking movement of the driven and intermediate gear wheels for opening the upper roll is, however, not sufficientto disengage the teeth of the lower intermediate gear wheel from the driving gear wheel so that the driving connection between the same is not disturbed and the same are again fully in mesh with each other when the upper roll is again movedrearwardly into its closed position.

As a consequence no conflict or clashing of the teeth of one gear wheel withthose of another occurs in this machine when opening and closing the upper or slip roll, as is frequently the case in forming machines having gear wheels, the teeth of which are completely disengaged when opening the upper or slip roll.

The severalgear wheels of the compensating gearing are arranged within the h0us ing or casing which encloses the swiveling bracketso that this casing serves as a guard which protects the operators against possible injury from these gear wheels.

In order to afford access to the compensating gearing and swiveling bracket and the bearings for the tail end of the rolls for inspection, repairing, adjusting or. lubrication, an opening 80 is provided on the outer side of the housing in the tail standard which opening is normallyclosed by a cover. 81 secured :to this standard by screws, as shown in Figures 1, 5, and 6 or by any other suitable manner.

Iuorder to reduce, as much as possible, the sliding action of the teeth of the lower intermediate gear wheel relative to the teeth of the drivinggear wheel the axis of the ,swiveling bracket 42 is arranged between the axes of the drivingand' driven rolls and the axes of the intermediate gear wheels and as near as practicableto the intermeshing teeth of the driving gear wheel and the lower intermediate gear wheel, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4,5 and 6.

In the preferred construction of the machine the relative arrangement of the rolls is such that the axis of the upper roll is on a vertical line 62 which is slightly in front ofa vertical line 63 through the axis of the lower'roll, as best shown in Figure 9. It follows from this organization of the machine that upon swinging the upper roll forwardly aftercompleting the. formation of a pipe from a sheet of metal the upper roll will not be retarded bydragging over the intervening metal but instead will be released therefrom at the very beginning of theopening movement-of the upper roll, thereby facilitating operation of the machine and increasing the output-accordingly.

As a whole this machine is comparatively simple, compact and durable in construction and =permits-of expeditiously forming sheets into tubes or pipes and to remove the completed product :with a IIliIliIIlLBI1.L111011I1l3 of labor. r

with its head .end toward -and;from a positionover-thef lower rolland turn about a vertical axis adjacent to the tail end of said rolls, andintermeshing gearing arranged at the tail end of said lower and upper rolls and operatively connecting the same.

2. A slip roll forming machine, comprising rear,1ower and upper rolls, hearings in which the lower and rear rolls are journaled, means for pivotally supporting said upper roll so that the same can swing horizontally with its head end toward and from a position over the lower roll and'turn about a vertical axis adjacent to the tail end of said rolls, and intermeshing gearing arranged at the tail end of said lower and upper rolls and operatively connecting the same, and including a gear wheel which turns with said upper roll and which is capable of changing the angle of its axisrelative to another member of said gearing.

8. A slip roll forming machine,- comprising a main frame, rear, lower and upper rolls, bearings mounted on the .main frame for the lower and upper rolls, a bracket pivoted on the main frame to turnabout a Verticalax-is and provided with a bearing for theitail end of said upper roll, a gear wheel mounted on the tail end of said lower roll, -a gear wheel mounted on the tail end of said upper roll, and a pair of intermeshing idler gear wheels mounted on said bracket and meshing respectively with the gear wheels on said lower and upper rolls.

4. A slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame, rear, lower and upper rolls, bearings mounted on the main frame for the lower and upper rolls, a bracket pivoted on the main frame to turn about a vertical axis and provided with a bearing for the tail end of said upper roll, a'gear-wheelmounted on the tail end of said lower roll, a' gear wheel mounted on the tail end of saidupper ro'll,a pair of intermeshing idler gear wheels mounted on said-bracket and meshing respectively with the gear wheels on said lower and upper rolls and pivot screws for said bracket mountedon said frame on avertical line arranged between the axes .of the gear wheels on said lower and-upper rolls and the axes of said idler gear wheels. i

5. A slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame, rear, lower and upper rolls, bearings mounted on the main frame, for the lower and upper rolls, a bracket pivoted on the mainframe to turn about a vertical axis and provided with abearing for thetail'end of said upper roll, a gear wheel mounted on the tail end of said lower roll, a gear wheel mounted on the tail end of said upper roll, and a pair of intermeshing idler gear wheels mounted on said bracket and meshing respectively with the gear wheels on said lower and upper rolls, said bracket being pivoted on said frame to turn about an axis which is arranged on a vertical line between the'axes of the gear wheels on said'lower and upper rolls and the axes of said idler gear wheels.

6. A slip roll forming machine, comprising rear, lower and upper rolls,-bearings in which the lower and rear rolls are journaled, means for pivotally supporting said upper roll so that the same can swing horizontally with its head end toward and from a position over the lower roll and turn about a vertical axis adjacent to the tail end of said rolls, intermeshing gearing arranged at the tail end of said lower and upper rolls and operatively connecting the same and a casing enclosing said gearing.

7. A slip roll forming machine, compris ing a main frame, rear, lower and upper rolls, bearings mounted on the main frame for the lower and upper rolls, a bracket pivoted on the main frame to turn about a vertical axis and provided with a bearing for the, tail end of said upper roll, a gear wheel mounted on the tail end of said lower roll, a gear wheel mounted on the tail end of said upper roll, a pair of intermeshing idler gear wheels mounted on said bracket and meshing respectively with the gear wheels on said lower and upper rolls and a stationary casing enclosing said gear wheels.

8. A slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame, a rear roll, a lower roll, an upper roll cooperating with said lower roll, and means for adjusting said lower roll vertically comprising a bearing in which said lower roll is journaled and which is guided vertically on said frame and provided on its under side with an inclined surface, and an inclined adjusting screw mounted on the frame and engaging with the inclined surface of said bearing.

9. A. slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame, a rear roll, a lower roll, an upper roll cooperating with said lower roll, and means for adjusting said lower roll vertically comprising a bearing in which said roll is journaled and which is guided vertically on said frame, and provided with an inclined T-shaped longitudinal channel, a coupling plate arranged with the enlarged part of said T-shaped channel and provided with a transverse slot extending to one longitudinal edge thereof, and an inclined adjusting screw mounted on the frame and passing through said slot and engaging its inner end with the top of said channel and having an outwardly facing shoulder engaging with the inner side of said coupling plate.

10. A slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame, a rear roll, a lower roll -upper roll.

11.. slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame, a rear roll, a lower roll mounted on the frame, an upper roll pivoted at its tail end on said frame to swing horizontally, said frame being provided at its head end with a horizontal forwardly opening slot which receives the head of said upperroll,

and means for holding said upper roll in said slot. V

12. .A slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame provided at its head end with a standard having a horizontal forwardly opening slot, a rear roll, a lower roll mounted on said frame, an upper roll pivotally mounted at its tail end on said frame to swmg horizontally and movable with its head end into and out of said slot, and a sleeve mounted on the head end of said upper roll and adapted to engage with said slot.

. 13. A slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame provided at its head end with a standard having a horizontal forwardly opening slot, or rear roll, a lower roll mounted on said frame, an upper roll pivotally mounted at its tail end on said frame to swing horizontally and movable with its head end into and out of said slot, a sleeve mounted on the head end of said upper roll and adapted to engage with said slot, and means for retaining said sleevein said slot.

14. A slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame provided at its head end with a standard having a horizontal forwardly opening slot, a rear roll, a lower roll mounted on said frame, an upper roll pivotally mounted at its tail end on said frame to swing horizontally and movable with its head end into and out of said slot, a sleeve mounted on the head end of said upper roll and adapted to engage with said slot, and means for retaining said sleeve in said slot consisting of a latch pivoted on the frame and having a nose movable into and out of the path of said sleeve, a handle arranged on said latch, and stops arranged in said frame for limiting the movement of said latch.

15. A slip roll forming machine, comprising a main frame provided at its head end with a standard having a horizontal forwardly opening slot, a rear roll, a lower roll mounted on said frame, an upper roll pivotal; ly mounted at its tail end on said frame to swing horizontally and movable with its head end into and out of said slot, a sleeve mounted on the head end of said upper roll and adapted to engage with said slot, and means for retaining said sleeve in said slot consisting of a latch pivoted on the frame and having a nose movable into and out of the path of said sle'eve a handle" arranged on said Y lato'ln-iand stops arranged on said frame for limiting the movement of said latch, said standard Having arec'ess on its upper part which receives'said latch, handle and stops.

16.7 A slip roll forming machine com-prising'arear ro1l,- a'lower' roll, an upper roll, an'd'means fbr'imparting to the upper roll the capacity of swinging horizontally and to and from a'position over the lower roll, the

longitudinal axis of said upper roll when in its operative position being arranged slightly in front ofthe axis of said lower roll.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my I signature.

PAUL R. HAHNEMANN. 

